Nah A-hyeon (나아현)

When I Turned Nine unexpected winner of Chunsa Film Art Awards

2004/11/25 | Source | Permalink |

When I Turned Nine, a story about schoolchildren in rural Korea, came away the unexpected winner of the Chunsa Film Art Awards on November 19.

The film by YOON In-ho was presented withthe Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay (LEE Man-hee), and the Child Acting Award (shared by LEE Se-yeong, KIM Seok, NAH A-hyeon and KIM Myeong-jae). Released in March 2004, When I Was Nine attracted 340,000 viewers and a warm critical reception upon its release.

Meanwhile Cannes Grand Prix-winner Old Boy by PARK Chan-wook was given the Best Actor award (CHOI Min-sik), Best Cinematography (JEONG Jeong-hoon), Editing (KIM Sang-beom), and a Special Jury Prize for PARK Chan-wook shared by Tae Guk Gi's KANG Je-gyu and Silmido's KANG Woo-seok.

Other awards presented included a tie for Best Actress between KIM Hye-soo (Hypnotized) and LEE Na-young (Someone Special); Best Supporting Actor to Jung Doo-hong (Fighter In the Wind); Best Supporting Actress to GOH Doo-shim (My Mother the Mermaid); Be...| More

Life's Little Melodramas at Age 9

2004/03/25 | Source | Permalink |

By Joon Soh
Staff Reporter

With their exaggerated relationships and overblown plots, there's something unrealistic, immature and, for many of us, slightly addictive about the romances portrayed in popular television dramas. "Ahopsal Insaeng (When I Turned Nine)", a new film opening today, literally brings out this childish side of melodramas in its look at life and love in an elementary school during the 1970s.

Though ostensibly a children's movie, "Nine" seems more of a film that adults would be interested in than younger viewers. A lot of the poignancy of the story stems from watching children maneuver the complicated waters of their feelings with the seriousness of adults.

The storyline follows your basic blueprint for romantic dramas. Yo-min (Kim Seok) comes from a poor family and has a mother with a disability but seems to have a good handle on his life and who he is. Endowed with an impressive ability to fight as well as a good head on his shoulders, Yo-min uses his ...| More